Honestly, why put white stripes across thousands of roads throughout the peninsula if they are to be ignored? Think of the money and manpower involved in putting down crosswalks. Every time I use a crosswalk (that is when it's not blocked by a car parked on it) I feel like I'm risking my life. I have cars fly up to me while I'm crossing and stopping mere feet from me. I've also had many cases where cars won't even stop even though I'm in the middle of crossing. They honk and fly past in front of me. Others stop only with the greatest of reluctance and resentment.

Honestly, if they aren't going to serve the function for which they are intended, why even bother putting them down?

In the US, driver has the 100% burden or responsiblity because pedestrians have the right of the way when crossing the cross walk. The drivers MUST stop when a pedestrian steps into the crosswalk. But in Korea, car has the right of the way and pedestrian shares the responsibility to look the both way before stepping into the crosswalk to cross. So be very careful and never think you have the right of the way when crossing the crosswalk in Korea.

I live in Daejeon and I dont find drivers That bad and the majority follow the rules. Some do as you describe but its not exactly common place.. At least I dont think so here in Daejeon. Lots of illegal parking but what do you expect in a place that has too many cars and not enough parking?

That being said.. Why stop at crosswalks? many koreans ignore korean road signs and light signals. Might as well get rid of those too =).

I heard that you can sue the pants off anybody who hits you with their car for the whole blood money thing. Drivers in Seoul, I've noticed, are generally pretty cautious, so I always figured there was something to it.

In the US, driver has the 100% burden or responsiblity because pedestrians have the right of the way when crossing the cross walk. The drivers MUST stop when a pedestrian steps into the crosswalk. But in Korea, car has the right of the way and pedestrian shares the responsibility to look the both way before stepping into the crosswalk to cross. So be very careful and never think you have the right of the way when crossing the crosswalk in Korea.

I'm curious - where are you getting this from?

For those of us that have been here for a while, you may remember the "crack down" of 2004 (?) for drivers stopping before the line - didn't last all that long.

In the US, driver has the 100% burden or responsiblity because pedestrians have the right of the way when crossing the cross walk. The drivers MUST stop when a pedestrian steps into the crosswalk. But in Korea, car has the right of the way and pedestrian shares the responsibility to look the both way before stepping into the crosswalk to cross. So be very careful and never think you have the right of the way when crossing the crosswalk in Korea.

Don't know if what you said is correct, but I've heard that when a car hits a person, the car is 100% at fault. Regardless of the situation. I think in Korea, anytime a larger objects comes into contact with a smaller object, the larger object is at fault. Car hits cyclist = car at fault. Cyclist hits pedestrian = cyclist at fault.

In the US, driver has the 100% burden or responsiblity because pedestrians have the right of the way when crossing the cross walk. The drivers MUST stop when a pedestrian steps into the crosswalk. But in Korea, car has the right of the way and pedestrian shares the responsibility to look the both way before stepping into the crosswalk to cross. So be very careful and never think you have the right of the way when crossing the crosswalk in Korea.

I'm curious - where are you getting this from?

For those of us that have been here for a while, you may remember the "crack down" of 2004 (?) for drivers stopping before the line - didn't last all that long.

It doesn't matter where he is getting it from. It is easily seen on a daily basis all over. Crosswalks and many other forms of pedestrian safety are merely decorations. Treat them as such and you stand a better chance of making it in one piece from point A to B. Korea Pedestrian Safety = Oxymoron!

Don't know if what you said is correct, but I've heard that when a car hits a person, the car is 100% at fault. Regardless of the situation. I think in Korea, anytime a larger objects comes into contact with a smaller object, the larger object is at fault. Car hits cyclist = car at fault. Cyclist hits pedestrian = cyclist at fault.

Totally incorrect. Saw a kid and her friend jaywalk on a major street in Bucheon and one of the kids got hit by a car, but not fatally. The coppers told the driver that he was absolutely not at fault; the accident was 100% the kids' fault. Now, the insurance company may have had a different idea about the issue, but the law sided with the driver so no prosecution. Note that in this case, the driver was (a) not foreign, (b) not in the military, and (c) not driving a military vehicle.

In the US, driver has the 100% burden or responsiblity because pedestrians have the right of the way when crossing the cross walk. The drivers MUST stop when a pedestrian steps into the crosswalk. But in Korea, car has the right of the way and pedestrian shares the responsibility to look the both way before stepping into the crosswalk to cross. So be very careful and never think you have the right of the way when crossing the crosswalk in Korea.

I'm curious - where are you getting this from?

For those of us that have been here for a while, you may remember the "crack down" of 2004 (?) for drivers stopping before the line - didn't last all that long.

I got this from a Korean TV program where they showed various situations and accidents and a lawyer explained each cases as to who bares what percentage of responsibility. I should clarify that what I said only applies to crosswalks without the pedestrian traffic light.